Cowboy Hazel

It was raining hard today. The type of rain that stings your face as it comes crashing down. The type of rain that keeps everyone inside. Well, almost everyone...

I was so excited to get back out there and get some miles in after my agonizingly long days off, the downpour wasn't about to stop me. I had the biggest smile on my face even as the raindrops were hurtling themselves towards me like little missiles. It was amazing. I was running slow, both because I didn't want to push it and because I was fighting a strong headwind, but I was running pain-free and everything seemed right with the world. I felt like laughing at the gods, saying, "This rain and wind is all you have for me? You can't stop me."

Maybe they heard my thoughts.

Just before I hit the 2.5 mile turnaround I felt a twinge. Oh no. That can't be good. Within a half mile, I wasn't able to continue running.

I tried stretching, walking a few paces, then running again a few times, but never made it more than a few steps. It was just too much pain. I was completely soaked, the wind was making me very cold, and I had no alternative but to walk the 2 miles back home. I felt completely helpless.

Shit.

So, I'm still packing up my bags and heading to Vermont early tomorrow morning, but I have no idea how this thing is gonna go. If it were an individual race, I would probably sit it out, but I feel obligated to try my best to live up to my commitment to the team. I'll take some pain killers before my legs of the relay and just hope for the best.